The Jazz Age Dance Cabaret is an immersive theatrical extravaganza whipping audiences out of their seats and propelling them into the lost world of the jazz age. With an emphasis on popular music and dance this production takes the audience back in time from the Roaring 20s and journeying right through to the end of the Second World War. The Jazz Age Dance Cabaret honours the popular dance and music of the jazz age (1920s, 30s and 40s) all supported by fabulous black and white projections and interesting facts pertaining to each era. But do not think for one minute that this is just a history lesson! Never in the Jazz Age have you learnt so much history through song and dance, or been privilege to the sassiness of the Candy Shop Show personalities. In Act 1 follow the luscious leggy lasses as they sing and dance their way through the Speakeasy’s of the Prohibition and relive the energy and despair of the war through the melodic harmonies of the 1940s. Act 2 brings the Modern Revival of the Jazz Age featuring recognisable numbers from popular artists with flashy costumes and high-energy dance routines!
- Venue Format
- Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue, Outdoor
- Technical Rating
- Touring Party
- 4 Dancer/singers and 1 Stage Manager/Crew (5 in total)
- Considerations
Performers need floor suitable for dance (including tap dancing). Minimum stage space required is 5m x 4m
Candy Shop Show are Brisbane-based producers of high-quality cabaret works designed for regional touring. With explosive shows bursting at the seams with an equal mix of musical theatre, stunning dance and beautiful harmonies, Candy Shop Show are a superior choice in Queensland for both event entertainment and touring theatrical cabaret works.
We currently have THREE tour-ready productions:
SUGAR, SUGAR! features the fabulously sassy sugary delights from the Retro eras - Miss Peppermint Twist, Miss Starburst, Miss Everlasting Gobstopper and Miss Skittle! This is the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s like you have never seen them, with a few cheeky surprises thrown in for good measure!
UP, UP & AWAY! Travel with Up, Up & Away! in this riotous dance cabaret on a once-in-a-lifetime journey around the world. The sassy stewardesses are your LIVE In-Flight Entertainment System which features more than enough razzle-dazzle from the Swing and Retro eras to keep you occupied during your fabulous journey.
SPEAKEASY is a journey through the jazz age when liquor was banned, jazz music was rife and dancing was all that mattered. Featuring live vocals, beautiful harmonies and fabulous flappers set to an authentic soundtrack, this lively nod to the past will set your soul alight!
- Company Website
- candyshopshow.net
Unique Selling Point
While many of us regard the Jazz Age as the era of feathers, flappers and speakeasy’s this production reminds audiences there was a lot more going on during that time. With the aid of newsreels and old film footage the audience is transported back in time to understand the events which inspired the incredible music and dance. The informative projection elements play a huge part in fusing the performance components and assists in emerging the audience into each era. This is a history lesson with a twist and the most fun you could possibly have in a pair of fishnets!
Marketing Materials
Plenty of Youtube footage of recent performances by the Candy Shop Show company, testimonials, flyers, countless original youtube clips of the real music & dance of the time, etc.
Community Engagement
Our light, energetic and cheeky approach to a history lesson has never been more fun! Imagine going out on a Friday night for dinner, drinks and a night at the theatre only to walk away having seen not only the best chorus line in town, but a whole bunch of facts about a past era delivered by a flapper in fishnets?
Our performance aims to cheekily challenge the audience to connect with modern pop artists who draw influence from the jazz age as well as pay homage to the artists of the time. Challenging audiences with information such as “Did you know that hip hop and street dance draws inspiration from popular dance style of the 1920s The Black Bottom Dance?” and “Did you know that The Charleston wasn’t the only popular style of the 1920s?” instantly suggests that this is no ordinary fluffy show about old-school dancing, but a clever and cheeky look at how influences of the jazz age are still relevant in pop culture today.
As part of our tour we would conduct dance cabaret workshops to young performers who otherwise may not have access to this style of dance.
Comments/Reviews
Meredith Walker
Media Review
Act1 sours to the historic sounds of the past, kicking off as it does with the Prohibition era’s lively Charleston & Black Bottom Dance before putting on the Ritz & moving into the romantic 1930s. And what audience member cannot help but to have a good time to the sounds of the Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy 1940s wartime swing tribute? (Read More)
Catherine Lawrence
Media Review
The cast produces an hour and a half of high-class entertainment that is educational and fun. With such wide musical repertoire at its core, it comes with an automatically extensive appeal and Jenny Usher should be commended on the show’s musical curation. This is a show full of fun and worthy of visit from any music, musical or dance fan. (Read More)
Catherine Lawrence
Media Review
Song & dance routines were interspersed with short talks, contextualising the change in dance & musical styles with film excerpts & newsreel footage. This gave the cast a chance to make quick costume changes with a flourish. In Act2 the cast touched on a number of aspects of the modern revival of the jazz age & even racy red outfits ? la Moulin Rouge! (Read More)